Vending machine



June 2 1942. w. E. i l'ru 2,285,068

VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1939 S'Sheets-Sheet 1 19 I A6 5 2E; T- EE-J-J-I- I Patented June 2, 1942 un -rs, s'r'rs 1 Claim.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularlyto a machine for vending articles of merchandise singly from a storage drum.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a machi ne of the character specified, a,

wheeler drum having a plurality of radially arranged compartments in which the merchandiseis placed for single'discharge through the medium of a novel"stepped or staggered construction of the eoinpartments or of the openingthrough which the articles are diseharged.

Another objector" theinventio'n resides in the provision of means lying under the spaced rows of merchan is rs support the same and is so constructed as to "reducefriction to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated dispensing compartment from which bottles or packages may be discharged with a minimum loss of refrigeration, having no direct rrietal'to' metal contact between the inner refrigerated compartment and the outer shell.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement receiving the maximum quantity of articles ready to bedisp'ensed, thereby"reducing"the number of times required to replenish the supplyof' merchandise. Still another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically producing a signal hen the machine isemptiedof merchandise and for simultaneously closing a coin slot against "the insertion bf 'a coir'il' Still another" object of the invention resides in means adapted't'o receive a number of coins or tokens and will respond bydispensing articles singly until a number "corresponding to thenumber of coins has been dispensed'so'long as each article is removed as it is 'delivered fr'om the machine.-

Broadly, the invention affords a vending machine whose simple construction and novel arrang'eme'nt of' parts renders 'it'less likely to fail to operate and one which may be used with or without refrigeration, rendering it" generally adaptable for vending not only' cold beverages, frozen confections and the like but also in disperising cigarettes; candies and similar merchandise.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the

invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangementof parts which will become manifest as the description proceedsftaken in' connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a vending machine constructed in accordance "with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View of the device.

Figure 3 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View taken on the line 4 4of Figure 2.'

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5"of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail View partly in elevation and partly in section, of'the' coin'ac'tuated elements.

Figure '7 is a detail view taken on the line 1- -lofFigure2."

Figure 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8'8 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 9 is an isometric View of the signal control switch. H

Figure 10' is a detail view of the coin chute and'coin chute'cl'os'ure, and Figure 11 is a wiring diagram.

In the drawings, the numeral I5 designates an outer shell or housing having a falsebottorn i6 disposed thereinfiA hinged top "H is provide'd', said top being held "in its lowered positibn'by a" hinged 'door!8"at"one end of the housingJ A vertical" partition" l9 isprovided within the housing l5 whereby two compartments", A and B" are formed. A second housing 20 having'a wheel 'or'drum 2! rotatably mounted therein, is inserted within thecompartment A of the housing l5.

' The drum *2! is "divided into compartments around the circumference thereof by rods 22.

By observing Figures 2 and 3, it may be seen ing means 25 is disposed aboutthe lower half of' the drum 2| whereby said means retains articles within the compartments of said drum. By observing Figure 8, it will be seen that the member 25 is provided With projections 21, said projections engaging the"articlesC' thereby reducing friction to a minimum.

For effecting the release o'f'the articles C from the compartments of the drum successively and transversely thereof, staggered openings 28 are provided in the semi-circular retaining means 26, below the drum 2|. By observing Figure '7 it may be seen that these openings 28 are so arranged as to release but one article with the insertion of but one coin as will hereinafter be said article into the chute 3| and finally into the outlet 32 thereby allowing the purchaser to receive the same.

For actuating the drum 2| through the medium or the motor 25, worm gear 24 and gear teeth 23, coin actuated mechanism is provided. A coin opening 34 is provided in the side wall of the housing 5, said opening communicating with a coin chute 35 (Figs. 4 and 6). A coin receptacle 38 is disposed at the termination of the chute 35 on the false bottom I within the housing l5. Pivoted within the outlet chute 3| is a trap door 31 (Figures 2 and 6). A control fork 38 is suitably pivoted to a brace member 39 and is pivotally connected to the trap door 3! by a rod 40. The lower prong 4| of the fork 38 is of suitable length whereby said prong extends within the coin chute to prohibit passage of coin therethrough. Thus, it will be seen that at such time as a coin D is inserted into the chute it will be held in the position shown in Figure 6. Further, the coin will close the contacts of a spring switch 42 through the medium of a pivoted arm 43 which switch controls the motor 25. From the foregoing it may be seen that at the insertion of a coin into the chute 35, the forked member 38 will retain the coin in a position to close contact to'the motor 25 allowing said motor to actuate the drum 2| through the medium of the worm gear 24 and teeth 23 thereby revolving said drum in a counterclockwise direction.

At such time as the drum revolves sufiiciently to eiTect the release of an article C into the common discharge chute 29 thence into the chute 3!, the passage of the article through this chute 3| will strike the pivoted trap door 31, effecting the withdrawal of the prong 4| and the subsequent release of the coin D in the chute 35. At such time the member 43 will regain its horizontal position by virtue of the pressure exerted thereon by one of the spring contacts of the switch 42 whereby these contacts will be opened to break the circuit to the motor. If more than one coin is inserted into the chute at any one time, it, will be necessary for the purchaser to remove each article after the delivery thereof. If this is not done the second article delivered will remain under the trap door keeping the same in its raised position. position the other prong 44 of the fork 38 will prohibit passage of the coin sufliciently to actuate the member 43. Thus, it will be seen that a safety device is provided which positively eliminates any jamming of the machine through the insertion of two or more coins at any one time.

With the trap in this During the actuation of the machine at all times a white light 45 is burning. The light rays pass through an opening 46 in the door l8. If desired, advertising indicia of the commodity being dispensed from the machine may be disposed within this opening 46. I

At such time as the drum 2| has made one complete revolution thereby emptying all compartments in all sections, an audible and visible signal is provided to notify the merchant that the dispenser is empty. For accomplishing this, a pivoted spring actuated toggle lever 41 is provided near the upper end of the inner housing 20. An adjustable clamp 48 is secured to the flange of the drum 2| opposite the flange carrying the gear teeth. This clamp is so arranged as to strike the lever 41 which lever is suitably secured to a toggle switch 49. At the time the drum is refilled the clamp is positioned immediately in back of the lever 41 and so arranged as to leave two or more articles remaining in the drum at the time the switch is actuated. At such time as a complete revolution of the drum 2| is made the clamp 48 will strike the lever 4'! thereby actuating the toggle switch 49. The actuation of this switch is so arranged as to completely out out the circuit to the motor 25 and the light 45 and complete a circuit to a red lamp 59 positioned in the wall l9 and being visible through the door l8 and to a buzzer signal 5|, also positioned in the wall. A solenoid 52 actuates a lever 53 which lever serves to close the coin chute 35 (Figs. 4 and 10) at such time as the circuit is closed to the red lamp 50 and the buzzer 5| thereby prohibiting insertion of coins after the dispenser is empty. To prevent dispension of bottles during the refilling process of the drum 2|, a slidable trap door 55 is provided. This door is actuated by a lever 56 and is retained in its upward position by a cross-member 51, bolt 58 and slot 59 in said cross-member.

In Figure 11 is shown a wiring diagram in ordinary operation. One side of. the circuit E is connected to the buzzer 5|, red lamp 5|], white lamp 45 and motor 25 through the medium of wires F, G and H respectively. The other side of the circuit I is connected to the toggle switch 49. One side of the toggle switch being connected to the motor and the white lamp by wires J and K respectively. The other side of the toggle switch is connected to the red lamp and buzzer by wires L and M respectively. The switch 42 is inserted in the line J. Thus it will be seen that with the switch in the position shown in Figure 11 a circuit is closed to the white lamp 45 and the motor 25 through the toggle switch 49. At such time as the members 41 and 48 change the position of the toggle switch, the circuit to the lamp 45 and the motor 25 is opened while the circuit to the buzzer 5| and lamp 50 is closed.

It is to be noted that a suitable refrigerating unit (not shown) is disposed within the inner housing 29 below the drum 2| and retaining member 25 whereby said articles C are cooled, when said articles are of the cold drink type.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a device simple in construction, cheap in manufacture and positive in action may be had. Also a device of this type accommodating a maximum number of articles in a minimum amount of space.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also lower half of said flanges and having stepped.

cular, stationary member snugly embracing the openings therein progressively alined with said merchandise chambers and through which articles gravitate successively from said compartments and progressively from said chambers as said body is rotated, and a common discharge chute for said openings for delivering merchandise from said machine.

WILFORD E. TITUS. 

